Mass Detentions in El Salvador: Human Rights Watch Report on Child Arrests
Arbitrary Detention of Children

Around 3,000 children, some as young as 12, have been caught in El Salvador’s mass detentions since President Nayib Bukele initiated a crackdown on gangs two years ago, according to a recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The report is based on case files and nearly 100 interviews with victims, police, and officials. It documents the arbitrary detention of children and, in some cases, ill-treatment that amounts to torture.

State of Emergency and Mass Arrests

Since the state of emergency began in March 2022, security forces have raided neighborhoods previously dominated by gang control and violence, resulting in the arrest of over 80,000 people. El Salvador has long been plagued by the dominance of two gangs, Barrio 18 and MS13, which had about 60,000 members by 2015 in a country with a population of 6 million. Most businesses faced extortion, and the annual homicide rate was 103 per 100,000. Bukele’s measures have significantly reduced violence, with the homicide rate dropping to 2.4 per 100,000 in 2023.

Human Rights Violations

Despite the security improvements, human rights organizations have documented numerous violations, including arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, and significant breaches of due process. HRW’s investigation revealed that many of the detained children had no apparent connections to gangs or criminal activities. In prison, these children suffer from overcrowding, poor food and healthcare, and lack of access to lawyers and family members.

Inhumane Conditions

In some instances, children were held alongside adults before being transferred to overcrowded juvenile facilities, described as “dangerous and dehumanizing environments that fail to prioritize children’s well-being and reintegration.” Over 1,000 of these children have been convicted with sentences ranging from two to 12 years on broad charges such as unlawful association, often based on unverified police testimony. Many confessions of gang affiliation were coerced through abusive plea deals and mistreatment.

Calls for Review and International Action

The HRW report urges the government to review the cases of those detained during the state of emergency, especially focusing on children and other vulnerable detainees. It also calls on foreign governments and international financial institutions to avoid approving loans that benefit the agencies involved in the abuses, such as security forces, the prison system, and the attorney general’s office.

International Response

“The government’s harsh targeting of children risks perpetuating the cycle of violence in El Salvador,” said Juanita Goebertus Estrada, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “Foreign governments should urge the government to end its human rights violations and protect the lives and futures of children.”

Bukele’s Popularity

Despite the documented human rights abuses, Bukele’s security measures have bolstered his popularity, making him one of the region’s most favored presidents. Although the constitution prohibits consecutive presidential terms, Bukele appointed new judges to the constitutional court, who ruled in favor of his re-election. He won the election in February by a significant margin, pushing the country closer to a one-party state.